Those of you who've been around for a while, ie three or four years ago, back when I was known as Dirk Amoeba, might remember that I was particularly obsessed with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. Or you might not. Anyhow. This obsession has simmered, since the subpar film was released and the excellent radio adaptations by Dirk Maggs drew to a close. As far as I was concerned, the franchise had wrapped up, at least until someone tried to adapt it again (preferably for television. I'm looking at you, Russell T Davies!)
But apparently I was wrong. And the truth is devastating.
Children's author Eoin Colfer has been commissioned to write a sixth instalment of the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series.
Mostly Harmless, the last Hitchhiker book, was written by its creator, the late Douglas Adams, 16 years ago.
Now Adams's widow, Jane Belson, has given her approval to bring back the hapless Arthur Dent in a new book entitled And Another Thing...
Eoin Colfer, 43, is best known for the best-selling Artemis Fowl novels.
He said he was "terrified" by the prospect of creating a new Hitchhiker book almost a quarter of a century after being introduced to what he described as a "slice of satirical genius" in his late teens.
"My first reaction was semi-outrage that anyone should be allowed to tamper with this incredible series," he said.
"But on reflection I realised that this is a wonderful opportunity to work with characters I have loved since childhood and give them something of my own voice while holding on to the spirit of Douglas Adams.
"I feel more pressure to perform now than I ever have with my own books," he said, adding that he was "determined that this will be the best thing I have ever written".
Jane Belson said: "I am delighted that Eoin Colfer has agreed to continue the Hitchhiker series.
"I love his books and could not think of a better person to transport Arthur, Zaphod and Marvin to pastures new. The project has my full support."
Adams died of heart failure in 2001, aged 49.
Around 16 million copies of his Hitchhiker books, which have been translated into 35 languages, have been sold around the world.
Colfer was a primary school teacher in Ireland before he secured the largest ever advance for a children's novel by an unknown author.
His Artemis Fowl series, about a teenage criminal mastermind who wreaks havoc in this world and the next, went on to sell more than 18 million copies worldwide and a film adaptation is due to go into production next year.
And Another Thing... will be published in October next year.
Personally, I dislike the idea of anybody continuing Adams's work. Not sure whether I'll give it a shot, as I've never read any of Colfer's work.
Any thoughts on this? Any other fans upset? excited? pissed off? hungry?
I've read two or three of the Artemis Fowl books - they're actually very very good. So I think Colfer can do Adam's series justice.
I've never read The Artemis Fowl books but I hope That this Eoin Colfer person is able to make a book able to
live up to our expectations. If it turns out to be a success then yay. If it crashes and burns then i will personally
find the man responsible and use the book to give him thousands of papercuts until he eventually bleeds to death
on the floor of his own house with a video of it streaming on veoh. No pressure though.
Artemis Fowl is quite good, provided you overlook the environmental propaganda that it tries to sledgehammer through your brain. Don't even talk to me about the Mary Sue in the penultimate book - although thankfully no sign of her in the latest.
H2G2 does not need someone else writing it.
DW
Well, there's a myriad of Hitchiker references in Madness Combat, but I've never read the book.
I've heard about it, though and it seems interesting... thing is, I don't know where to get any of the books. 
No matter how good this turns out, people will hate it just because it isn't written by Adams.
Well, there's a myriad of Hitchiker references in Madness Combat, but I've never read the book.
I've heard about it, though and it seems interesting... thing is, I don't know where to get any of the books.
Barnes & Noble?
Looking at the websites, it seems your major US bookstores do indeed stock it and it's not out of print. If you're in the UK, it should also be in print. If you're not in either of those places, I can see where it gets difficult...
DW
The only bookstore I know of near me is Borders.
That and those bible stores...
Well, their US website lists them, so you should have a chance of finding them in Borders. In fact, if they're anything like the ones in the UK, I'd say you have a better than average chance of finding anything SF / fantasy-related in there. They're usually my first point of call when a new Dresden File has come out Stateside, because they sometimes import them.
DW
This seems like a terrible idea just because coller doesn't have the douglas adams sense of humor.
I'm more curious as to why they didn't call Terry Pratchett to do it. His Discworld series is as alike to H2G2 in spirit as anything I've seen, albeit fantasy instead of sci fi, but that's details.
Also, you can find a hardcover Ultumate Hitchiker's Guide more easily than the individual copies; it has all five original stories in one book.
Probably because Terry is A) Too busy writing whatever his next book is, B) Is not a well puppy, and C) Isn't a cash whore enough to carry on milking somebody else's series that is clearly and decisivly finished.
I'd be willing to read another Hitchhiker volume, even if it isn't by Adams. I'm open to it.
@ CT - You can find Hitchhiker at any regular bookstore. o__o; Just look at the beginning of the Sci-Fi section.
I have the Ultimate book in a paperback volume. It cost me $19.
the main thing i have against this is that the hitchhikers books were very of their time. will this writer be able to get that.. or will he try to make it more 'modern'? i'll have a flick through the book to see what it's like, buying it will depend.
sometimes new books in a series don't work so well. remember peter pan? i don't even remember how the new book went. oo;
(then again, some official books read like fanfiction. *coughendingofharrypottercough* >-->; )
didn't enjoy some bits of the later hitchhiker books so much anyhow, like the plot point of one of the characters just.. being written out with little explaination.
one of the books i just skipped to the bits with ford prefect jumping out of windows.. them was the parts i loved. ^^
